Ignition-lock



A. vv. SAEGESSEH IGNlTlON LOCK.

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1 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.`

ALBERT W. SAEGESSER, 0F GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To LIBERTY-Auro LOCK C0., 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

IGNITION-LOCK.

Application led September .11, 1912-).` Serial No.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT W. SAEGEssER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Granite City, in the county of Madison and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition-Locks, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ignition .locks the peculiarities` of which will be hereinafter described and claimed. i

The4 main object of my invention is to provide an automatic lock for an ignition system' such as thatI of an automobile, by which the act of switching off the i ition will likewise automatically lock the switch in the switched olf or cut out position without the air of the operator; a second object is to provide means whereby the key required for opening the automatic lock just mentioned must. be removed from said lock stood that it may be use before the current is cut in again, and thus avoid the danger from oversight in not removing the key of the automatic lock.

In the accompanying drawing on which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure l represents a face view of lan ignition switch with my improvements applied thereto and shown with the switch in its cut out position; Fig. 2 an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional elevation of the casing taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2 and showing a face view of the `interior parts; and Fig. 4 a sectional side elevation of the parts, the section being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 3.

This automatic lock is especially adapted for use with the ignition switch of an automobile and will be so described to exemplify its use and advantages, thou h it is under- (I for ignition switches elsewhere located. Thus when it is desired to stop the engine connected' to the ignition switch, said switch is thrown to cut out the current and by such action in connection with my automatic lock, the switch is locked in its cut out position so that the'engine cannot be started until the automatic lock releases its engagement with Specification of Letters Patent.

y matically Patented Aug. 3, 1920. 323,056.

switch cannot be fully operated until said key is withdrawn after the initial action of the key on my lock in order to start the switch to throw iny the ignition current.

Referring to the drawing, the letter A designates a stationary tubular stub on which is rotatably mounted a bushing B preferably squared Vat its end as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a slot C for engagement with the usual switch handle D. On this bushing n hub having a ribbed arm F. The hub is slotted and an arched switch blade E is secured therein. The arm F oscillates between posts G and G limiting the engagement of the switch blade E with contacts H and H suitably wired to the magneto and battery respectively. The blade E is in constant engagement with'the contact I suitably wired to the frame of the machine, or otherwise to complete the circuit through either the magneto or the'battery according to which way the switch is thrown, and the ignition or spark plugs of the engine. Said contact I is suitably insulated by the usual asbestos plate J from the body plate K carried by the said posts G-G and a third post L,the tops of which posts are drilled and threaded to receive screws that pass through the face plate M of an inclosing casing N, whereby said casing is readily mounted on said posts and may be as readily removed therefrom by taking out said screws.

Referring to Fig. 3, the said switch blade E and rocker arm F are shown in their neutral position which they assume when the handle D is thrown to a vertical position in order to stop ,the engine running. It is this position of the switch that I automatically lock, and I do this by means of a spring-actuated plate O having two prongs with beveled faces T and T, providing a notch Q between said prongs in which is inserted the upper end of said rocker arm F. The said plate is slidably mounted in suitable guides in said casing, and providedwith springs P-P acting downward so as to engage the upper end of said arm F autowhen the arm passes under said plate and'raisesl the plate, by engagement with one of the beveled faces, to the upper position indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 3.

with lthe key hole.

When the arm F hasvreached the verticalV position under the notch Q, the spring plate will automatically engage said arm and hold it from movement ineither direction until theplate O isunlocked.

A suitable look R for -this spring-actuated plate is provided and the bolt of said lock is adapted to raise the plate O to the position indicated by dashed lines, and suchv lifting of the said'plate must be effected before the switch arm and its blade E can be released. he bolt of said lock is a spring bolt, so that the downward` tendency ofthe plate vO under the action of the springs P-P will tend to return'the "spring back bolt of the lock when the key- S is released by the hand of the operator and remains in the key hole. Thus when the key Sis inserted and the plate' O is raised by the spring back bolt of said lock R, the switchhandle'l) can throw the switch arm and blade to the position indicated by dashed lines Fig. 3, and the springs P will return Athe plate O to the position shown in full lines Fig. 3 with the beveled face of one of the prongs in position to be engaged by the arm F to raise the said prong and its plate when the arm is thrown to a neutral position once more.

Through carelessness the key S'may be left in the ke hole, and to avoid this difficulty I provi'l e a guard plate U Figs. 1 and 4, preferably mounted uponthe squared end of therotatable bushing B carryin the switch blade, so that the guard plate will turn when the switch is thrown, as indicated in Fig.1by dashed lines. In said guard plate 1s an opening V opposite the lock R when the'plate is 1n the. position shown by full lines Fig. 1. When said opening V registers with the keyhole of the lock R,.tl1e switch is already locked by the plate O' as above described and the ignition is cut out, and cannot be thrown in again until the lock R is operated by the key S, which can be passed through the hole Vv registering The plate O is thus raised and the switch is released, and the switch handle D can be turned enough to bring the top of the arm F under one of the prongs so the prong will ride on the arm, before the edge ofthe hole V will stop the guard plate from further movement by enaging with thev key S. Therefore the key S must be removed from the key hole before the switch handle D can be operated to-the full en agement one or the ot er of the contacts H or This makes it impossible to start the engine again 4without first unlocking the switch and then removing the key in order to throw the switch fully either to the magneto or battery contact.

The guard plate U besides being engaged by the square end of the bushing B, is retained by the turned over edges n of the ofthe blade E with casing, so that the edges of said rotate freely within the groove guard plate A thus formed but canrmtmbeNreadily removed f/rom the Additional safety. is prfovided by an inwardly projecting rivet W Figs. 1 and 1, the head of which lis inside the ftop plate of the casing andoperates ina slot 5 Fig. 1,

as the guard plate is rotated.`

The guard plat screws that engage the and are countersunk e also covers the fastening posts Gr, G and L, the top plate end of the casing. The wliole casing therefore cannot be removed by taking out-these screws, when the guard plate and switch are in their safe position shown in Fig. 1.

In order however to fasten this casing to the supporting posts, I provide openings 6 that respectively register with their adjacent plate are thrown screws,l only when the switch and guardI to vone side or the other of the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1.

Therefore when the switch openings 6 cent screws, and

is locked the said do not register with the adja the lattercannot be taken Only when the enmagneto or on battery will the guard plate be thrown inf/such e position that the opening 6 will register with the adjacent screws.

limit struction shown.

I do not myself to the exactcon- Thus it is evident that the act of cutting out .the ignition the machine,

tothe engine of anautomobile, as commonly done when stopping will likewise automatically lock the machine against theft; tl/ie engine can not be started again till thesafety key Y S is used to allow the switch to close the v1gnition.

Furthermore, y locking the switch, must take out the safety Y' the owner after un'- 105 key after the initial movement ofthe switch, in order to fully close or throw in the switch; he will not be able to leave the key curs otherwise.

I claim:

in the lock by roversight, as Vfrequently oc 1. A device of comprising a rotary an insulated arm, contacts and operative the character describedv ignition switch havin wires, a spring-actuated plate having double prongs beveled on opposite sides forming a recess between them` that is automatically engaged by either directlon and thus locks said switch,

the movement. of said arm 1n and means temporarily to disengage said plate to unlock said switch, substantially as described.

2. A device ofi-the character described,

comprising an ignition switch having contacts and operative wires, a key-controlled automa-tic lock effecting locking control of said switch when the switch is open, a guard plate operated by'fsaid switch and having a key opening regis tering with said automatic l 4. rotar)7 lock when the sWitch is open, but covering said automatic lock When the switch is closing, substantially as described.

3. device of the character described comprising a rotary ignition switchv having contacts` and operative Wires, a casing having fastening screws, a guard plate located above said screws and rotated together With said switch, and having'openings 4that register with said screws only when the switch is closed, substantially as described.

ignition switch having contacts and .operative Wires,

a key-controlled automatic lock for said switch, an inclosing casing having fastening screws in .the to and a key opening, a guard plate rotatably mounted on top of said casing and operated in conjunction with said switch and having openings that register with said key and do not register with said screvvs when the switch is open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I havel affixed my signature.

ALBERT W.` SAEGESSER. 

